لقد حاجيت يا خنسا

ءُ في ضربٍ من الشِعرِ

I plead to you, O silent one

I have challenged you, O Khansa,

In a form of poetry

With a riddle woven into verse,

وفيما طوله شبرٌ

وقد يربى على الشبرِ

Though its length is a span

Concerning that which measures a hand-span,

It may grow to a span

Or perhaps grows larger than a span.

له في راسه شقٌّ

لطيفٌ بالندى يجري

It has in its head a cleft

Upon its head it bears a cleft,

Subtle, flowing with dew

Delicate, from which the moisture flows.

إذا بُل أتى بالأعجب

العجّاب في الأمر

When it is wet, it comes wondrous

If wetted, it brings forth the most

A wonder in the matter

Astonishing wonders in its wake.

فإن هو جفّ لم ينفك

كَ في برّ ولا بحرِ

If it dries, it does not cease

But if it dries, it offers no relief

On land or in sea

To you on land or open sea.

أجيبي لم أر فحشاً

وربّ الشفعِ والوترِ

Answer me, I saw no lewdness

Answer me—I intended no obscenity,

By the Lord of the even and odd

By the Lord of the Even and the Odd.